Archive: November 3, 2022

Bombay Bandook from Mumbai win Mahindra Independence Rock band hunt powered by Jawa Yezdi Motorcyles; will kick off the newest edition this November

India-wide release, 3rd November 2022: The stage is all set for the iconic comeback of India’s biggest music festival with a new title partner, the Mahindra Group and performances by an incredible motley of rock bands. It has been re-christened as Mahindra Independence Rock, a.k.a. Mahindra I-Rock, and brought forth by its founder Farhad Wadia along with Hyperlink Brand Solutions and Paytm Insider. Further, Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles, ride partner for the event this year, had presented Tomorrow’s Headliners, the country-wide digital band hunt and now the festival has announced the winning band who will be opening the act of the night. The winning band, Bombay Bandook – selected by an esteemed panel of judges is all geared to kick off this edition of the legendary rock festival at Mumbai’s Bayview Lawns (Princess Dock, Mazgaon).

Since its inception in 1986, the festival has served as a seedbed for underground rock talent seeking national and international presence. In fact, the previous editions have witnessed it discover young bands like Demonic Resurrection, Bhayanak Maut, Motherjane, and Agnee alongside Indus Creed, Pentagram, Parikrama and Zero, turning them into powerhouse legends of the Indian rock-and-roll scene. Intending to keep this tradition alive, this year’s edition of Mahindra I-Rock conducted an online band hunt for emerging Indian artists through ‘Tomorrow’s Headliners.’

This digitally-run contest saw aspirants from across the length and breadth of India and more than 100 bands battled it out to be in the finals. The top 3 amongst them moved to the final round, from which Bombay Bandook was selected as the Band Hunt Winner. The opening act by Bombay Bandook will be performed on the Jawa Yezdi stage. Meanwhile, I-Rock alumni and notable names deeply rooted in the Indian rock scene and the music industry at large made up the panel of judges, each bringing a unique perspective to the contest: Hrishikesh Kannan (National Brand Head for RadioOne India), the legendary vocalist for Brahma, Devraj Sanyal (now MD and CEO of Universal Music Group, India & South Asia) and Vinay Venkatesh, the former vocalist for Bhayanak Maut, a band discovered on the I-Rock stage.

Talking about the band hunt, Mr V.G. Jaishankar – Managing Director of Hyperlink Brand Solutions said, “Identifying and empowering homegrown talent and nurturing a creed of the Indian rock fraternity has been an essential part of this festival’s legacy. Which is why it was heartening to see the overwhelming response from rock-and-rollers from every nook and cranny of the country for this year’s edition. At the same time, I believe we couldn’t have had a more perfect panel of judges to truly recognise these talents and select a band deserving of the Mahindra I-Rock stage this year!”

Ashish Singh Joshi, CEO, Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles, stated, “It gave us immense pleasure to present Tomorrow’s Headliners, the nationwide digital band hunt for Mahindra I-Rock. Jawa Yezdi motorcycles have always been about the spirit of adventure, exploration and new discoveries. Powering this band hunt resonates perfectly with our ethos as it gives a stage to young talents from across the country, enabling them to showcase their talent and give tough competition to each other in becoming the winner of this contest.”

On winning the band hunt Sannidh Shah, Founder of Bombay Bandook said, “I-Rock was one of those festivals that we’ve been hearing about since we were in school. All our favourite indie scene regulars have been a part of it, so to be able to do the same is really cool. And winning the contest made that possible, giving us the opportunity to grow our audience even more. So, we couldn’t have been more excited to be the opening act on the evening of its return!

Bombay Bandook is here to stay, win your hearts and grow together with the scene. They’re #TomorrowsHeadliners.”

As winners of the band hunt, Bombay Bandook will get the dream opportunity to perform alongside Mahindra I-Rock’s line-up of cult bands, such as Pentagram, Indus Creed, Parikrama, Parvaaz, and more, making the festival’s resurgence a grander-than-ever affair with the rock genre.

Short Video Community – Tiki Empowers Its Creators to Make a Difference Through Tiki Meetup

New Delhi, 03 November 2022: Tiki, a short video-entertainment platform launched a community-led social initiative – Tiki Meetup. It is a pro-social good initiative driven by its creators, where local creators organize meet-ups in their regions to give back to society. Following last year’s success, 800+ creators organize more than 2000 charity meetups in over 100 cities across the country, the Tiki community is hopeful to make a larger impact this year with more charity meetups to happen.

Tiki encourages and supports local talent and its creators are further extending the support to the underprivileged. The initiative aims to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility among creators to support the underprivileged by organizing offline meetups and discovering their power to make a difference. Tiki creators come up with innovative ways to organise the meetups and reach out to people in need to help them in various ways. Creators have taken initiatives like distributing food, organising cleanup and plantation drives, and distributing hygiene kits in the desolated areas. These initiatives have made a great impact on the lives of more than 1 lakh people in cities like – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Lucknow among others.

On the launch of the initiative, Ian Goh, CEO, Tiki, said, “Today, social work is not exclusive or limited to just social work organizations. At Tiki, we are aiming to bring that change via our creators to discover the power to make a difference in their community. Over 30 representatives have been chosen to lead meetups in their hometowns, who are known as Tiki City Ambassadors. With their own team, they have impacted the lives of more than 1 lakh people in a span of one year. This positive outcome motivates us to keep driving change and we are hopeful to connect with more people across the length and breadth of the country this year as well with tiki Meetups.”

Barkha Shah, Tiki City Ambassador in Delhi, said, “I always wanted to help those in need in my community, but I wasn’t able to due to the lack of resources. When I joined Tiki, not only my talent was appreciated but my desire to organize charity events came true. Tiki supported us in extending a helping hand to help those in need. Along with my team, I have organized more than 50 meetups, where we have helped people by distributing food, stationery, clothes, etc. People have now started referring to us as ‘Tiki Wale’, which shows how a social media platform is not just a medium of entertainment but also a gateway for people to give back to our communities.”

Tiki started this initiative with the hope to meet its creator’s goal and support them throughout. The movement is a shared belief by both Tiki and its creators. Therefore, the brand aims to embrace more innovative ways of working toward it and will empower more creators to participate in the meetups and bring positive change in society.

GIC and ESR establish a US$600 million Joint Venture to invest in Core Industrial and Logistics Assets in India

MUMBAI, 3rd November 2022–GIC and ESR Group Limited (“ESR”; SEHK Stock Code: 1821) announced, today, an 80:20 strategic partnership to establish a US$600 million joint venture (“Core JV”) to acquire income-producing core industrial and logistics assets in India.

The Core JV represents an extension of the existing partnership in India between the two, which was initiated in 2020, with the initial capital pool dedicated to investing in development and value-add logistics and industrial opportunities across India. The new Core JV provides focused capital dedicated to enabling organic growth of the platform and will invest in stabilized operational assets in strategic locations across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities of the country. Investments in enabling sustainable infrastructure are critical to the country’s development. With an upsurge in the share of organized retail and e-commerce, supported by emerging sectors such as electric vehicles and semiconductors, the industrial and logistics asset class is expected to outperform other real estate and infrastructure asset classes in the medium term.

Jeffrey Shen and Stuart Gibson, ESR Co-founders and Co-CEOs said: “Capital partner support has been key to the growth of ESR’s new economy real estate platform. We are excited to work with GICto capitalize on the strong growth in the logistics sector in India. This stems from our long and deep strategic relationship covering multiple geographies and funds. As APAC’s largest real estate asset manager, ESR’s integrated fund management platform has provided our capital partners with access

to some of the world’s best secular growth opportunities propelled by the positive trends of e-commerce and digital transformation. These trends open new investment opportunities to ESR and our capital partners as the demand for advanced, large-scale, well-located logistics and industrial assets become even greater.”

Abhijit Malkani, CEO of ESR India, stated: “India is at the cusp of a supply chain transformation supported by automation, digitisation, and favourable government policies. Class-A industrial and logistics developments offer a variety of features to enable increased operational efficiency, which is vital to this shift. With the Core JV platform, we will upgrade the assets as required, and add sustainability elements, to ensure that we offer the same product quality to our customers as we do for products that we develop ourselves.”

ESR India, part of the ESR Group, is a leading developer and manager of industrial and logistics real estate with assets under management of approximately US$1.7 billion and over 18 million sq. ft. of GFA.

Netsurf Network launches six unique variants of Ayurveda & Herbal Green Tea under Naturamore

India, 3rd November 2022: Netsurf Network, one of India’s largest direct-selling players, has recently launched an array of new herbal green teas. The ayurvedic and herbal teas by Naturamore Herbal Green Teas aim to cater to health-conscious consumers who prefer to opt for chemical-free, herbal beverages. These variants are available in six new exciting variants: Ginger & Cumin (Digestive & Detox), Tulsi & Licorice (Helps in Lung Detox), Alpinia & CO-Q10 (Rejuvenates & Energises), Ashwagandha & Lemon (De-stress & Relaxation), Brahmi & Cinnamon (Healthy for Hypertensives), and Fenugreek & Turmeric (Helps Balancing Glucose).

The India Green tea market was valued at US$ 1,247.36 Mn in 2018 and is projected to reach US$ 2,112.47 Mn by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during 2020–2027.

Naturamore is a leading health & wellness brand by Netsurf Network launched in the year 2004. Herbal Green Teas is the latest extension of the product line by the brand.

Encased in attractive packaging, the all-new range of Netsurf Naturamore Herbal Green tea is enriched with anti-oxidants, reinvigorated with blends of traditional Ayurvedic herbs and partakes of the natural sweetness of licorice.

Each of the new flavours launched offers a unique benefit. The Ginger & Cumin green tea aids digestion and detoxifies your body. Shunthi (Ginger) extract improves hunger, digestion, and bowel movements, while Jeera (Cumin) extract improves digestion and relieves bloating and flatulence.

While the Tulsi and licorice green tea aid in lung detox. Tulsi is known for its antimicrobial property. It helps fight off respiratory infections. With antioxidant, anticancer, and healing properties, it helps in faster recovery from respiratory illnesses, whereas Yashtimadhu (licorice) root soothes the throat, helps heal ulcers, and clears the secretions in the airway.

Alpinia & CO-Q10 green tea rejuvenates and allows you to not compromise on your fitness. Kulanjan (Alpinia) extract improves physical strength, exercise tolerance capacity, neuromuscular function, and coordination in movements. Coenzyme Q10 is good for heart health and improves physical stamina and muscle health. The Ashwagandha & Lemon green tea is for destress & relaxation. Ashwagandha extract is popular for its positive effects of relieving stress on the mind and body. It also improves energy levels.

Brahmi & Cinnamon green tea is good for hypertensive patients. Brahmi extract relaxes the blood vessels, helps to normalize the blood pressure and also improves brain function. On the other hand, dalchini (cinnamon) dilates blood vessels, reduces cholesterol and improves heart function. Last but not the least, Fenugreek and turmeric green tea help balance glucose. Methi Dana (Fenugreek) extract is known for its sugar-lowering property. Turmeric extract (with nano Curcumin) is well-known for its anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, and healing properties. It helps the body recover from damage due to high sugar levels.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Sujit Jain, MD and Chairman of Netsurf Communications Pvt. Ltd. said “We are excited to acquaint the market with our six new flavours of Naturamore herbal green tea. Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world after water, it is almost identical to our Indian culture and forms a part of our everyday consumption. Our newest range of products, Naturamore herbal green tea aims at transforming tea consumption in the country. Our goal is to provide our customers with a unique experience of their favourite beverage while also addressing their health concerns by offering a healthy tea to them.”

Zee Digital rebrands itself as IndiaDotcom Digital; focuses on building a tech-centric organization

India, 3rdNovember 2022: Zee Digital, one of India’s largest digital entities, has rebranded itself to IndiaDotcom Digital Pvt Ltd (IDPL) with a new logo, to redefine a host of Infinite Possibilities. It unveiled the new brand identity and fresh look through a short video on social media, thus symbolizing a well-thought manifestation of its relentless drive for innovation, excellence, empowerment, and growth.

The media Industry has been evolving with new-age innovative technology. To match the increasing demand of its viewers/readers, IDPL looks forward to converting into a technology-centric organization by investing in high-end technology, encouraging product talent & vibrancy, and boosting the entrepreneurial spirit. IDPL has implemented technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Speaking about the brand rebranding, Devadas Krishnan, CEO – IDPL says, “The new avatar of IDPL is a step forward towards encouraging innovation and adopting a tech-driven approach as per the market demand of the present day and age. As a brand, we are fast-paced, and encourage our employees to upskill and enhance their knowledge through an in-depth understanding of how content is consumed by our viewers/ readers. We look forward to attracting the best tech, product, and marketing talent in the industry. “

Furthermore, keeping in line with Zee group’s employee-friendly culture, IndiaDotcom Digital offers its employees the option to work onsite, remote, and hybrid. IDPL has also successfully initiated employee-friendly practices such as an in-house gym and library, crèch for working parents, and a ‘Well done’ initiative – where team members’ efforts are appreciated and rewarded by the company on the spot. This enables a better work-life balance and well-being of its workforce and encourages a collaborative culture of healthy employee relations.

IDPL has been aggressive in its hiring and recently added 300+fresh talent. As per the latest FICCI-EY report, the Indian media and entertainment (M&E) industry clocked Rs 1.61 lakh crore in 2021 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11% to Rs 2.32 lakh crore by 2024.

Exotrail and Isar Aerospace Sign Multiple Launch Services Agreement to Break New Ground in Space Mobility

The space mobility operator Exotrail and the European launch service provider IsarAerospace announced today a multiple launch services agreement. Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle Spectrum will launch Exotrail’s spacevan™ vehicle on several firms’ launches to low Earth (LEO) and geostationary transfer orbits (GTO) from Isar Aerospace’s launch sites in Andøya, Norway, and CSG, French Guiana, between 2024 and 2029. With the combination of launchpads, Isar Aerospace provides access to all orbits at a high cadence.

With the demand for flexible and cost-efficient access to space continuing to rise, Exotrail and Isar Aerospace have partnered to break new ground in the delivery of satellites. This combination of both service offers enables customers to launch single satellites and satellite constellations and place them in the orbit of their choice driving forward telecommunication, Earth observation, space logistics, and exploration.

With this agreement, Exotrail extends its manifest to keep on providing competitive solutions and meet the market’s growing demand for precise satellite delivery in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with specific orbital planes, inclinations and altitudes, as well as further to the geostationary orbit (GEO). Doing so, the company keeps on building up its spacedrop™ manifest for the years to come, with a stable financial framework without compromising service flexibility. The spacevan™ vehicles will embark on the Spectrum launcher, with the possibility to fly from Isar Aerospace’s two launch facilities.

Exotrail’s tailored spacedrop™ service allows satellite operators to get their spacecraft into their bespoke operational orbits. Exotrail offers an integrated service by procuring access to space, integrating customers’ satellites onto the spacevan™ platform, and performing the required operations in orbit. Contrary to other solutions on the market, Exotrail’s spacevan™ uses space-proven electric propulsion to increase both its passenger capacity and its range. The versatility of Isar Aerospace’s launch offering towards specific planes and low inclinations, along with the seldom spacevan™ performances, will allow Exotrail to deliver passengers’ satellites in any plane and any inclination, making new business models available and sustainable. Exotrail’s spacedrop™ service also helps launch service providers to extend the range of their accessible missions and optimize the filling ratio of their rocket, to increase both revenues and profitability.

Jean-Luc Maria, CEO of Exotrail, stated:
“The contract with Isar Aerospace enables us to consolidate our spacedrop™ service by offering more launch opportunities to customers looking for bespoke and competitive access to LEO and GEO orbits. We are looking forward to these flights and to building a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership with Isar Aerospace and our respective customers.”

“Exotrail is one of the leading European NewSpace companies – we are delighted to welcome them on-board Spectrum’s flights and thank Exotrail’s team for the trust and confidence it has placed in us. We are proud to further expand our launch manifest and can look on a strong customer record,” says Daniel Metzler, CEO, and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace.

Isar Aerospace underlines yet another expansion of its launch manifest and is cementing its presence as the leading private European launch service provider. Together, the two companies will further deliver on their mission to shape the European NewSpace industry.

A PROPOS D’EXOTRAIL

Exotrail is an end-to-end space mobility operator. The company offers customers the capability to define their space mobility needs with the spacestudio™ mission analysis software, meet that need with spaceware™ onboard propulsion systems and spacedrop™ in-space mobility services, and operate the solution with the spacetower™ software. This complete mobility offering called mobilityhub™ allows satellites to optimize their deployment, increase their service performance, and reduce space pollution. Exotrail has been incorporated in 2017 and has secured over 20M€ of funding. The company has more than 20 customers in North America, Europe, and Asia. Exotrail’s team is expanding quickly and consists, as of today, of +75 passionate people operating out of two locations: Toulouse and Massy (suburb of Paris) in France.
More information: https://www.exotrail.com/

GenWorks Partners with PerkinElmer to launch a technology that is saving risky baby lives

Bangalore, November 3, 2022: Marrying blood relatives, is one of the common cultural practices in India that endangers the health and lives of many newborns, every year.

A recent study published in the Karnataka Paediatric Journal shows that such infants are at a higher risk of developing certain metabolic disorders leading to intellectual disability, developmental delay, and other behavioral abnormalities, medically known as inborn errors of metabolism (IEM).

Early screening of these babies can prevent serious and life-threatening consequences through timely intervention. Around 27 million babies are born in India, every year. Out of this nearly 1 in 2497 babies are born with IEM. But how do you know which baby needs treatment, as newborns can only cry?

Victor2™D, a patented device, when used with an appropriate IVD assay can detect, measure, and quantify the presence or absence of enzymes in a baby’s body.

“It is (Victor2™D) as simple as doing any routine blood test,” said Mayank Kumar Srivastava, general manager, of product and markets, India South Asia, PerkinElmer.

For instance, Galactosemia is a common enzyme deficiency disorder among newborns in India. The Indian Pediatrics Journal estimates that around 39,000 children are born, annually, with this disorder, causing significant morbidity and mortality in childhood.

A newborn with galactosemia disorder may appear normal at birth. Symptoms start to show up within a few days after they begin to drink breast milk. The baby first loses its appetite and starts vomiting. Then they get jaundice, a yellowing of the skin, and the whites of their eyes. Diarrhea is common, too. The disease leads to severe weight loss and the baby struggles to grow and thrive. Without treatment, over time the child may develop cataracts and may be susceptible to infections.

“Certain enzymes help a baby in digesting milk and turn it into energy. But if the enzyme is not there or remains submissive in the first 48 to 72 hours, the baby may even die,” said Srivastava.

“In such cases, we need to withdraw milk from a baby’s diet and start giving soya milk so that the baby can be saved. But without the screening test, we won’t know.”

Victor2™D functions on a patented technology known as DELFIA.

“With the help of lanthanide, Victor2™D prolongs the visibility of the enzyme, allowing a trained technician to do the analysis more accurately,” said Srivastava.

“The analysis can’t be done if you don’t get that prolonged visibility, which is why we did some interventions and got that technology patented,” said Srivastava.

Once the analysis is done, the report goes to a pediatrician, who then decides the line of treatment after seeing if there is any metabolic disorder or not.

“It requires about two to three hours of incubation time to perform this kind of analysis,” added Srivastava. Along with GALT deficiency, Victor2™D is also used to screen congenital hyperthyroidism (CH), another common metabolic disorder, among the Indian population.

Mr. S Ganesh Prasad Founder, MD & CEO GenWorks said “ GenWorks has made a pioneering effort to put together best-in-class technology for Newborn Care. Our care for newborns has impacted outcomes for more than a million lives all the way from saving lives to providing the quality life that every newborn deserves.

Mr. Prasad further added “Our portfolio in newborn care is complete from early screening, early diagnosis, focused treatment, and development care. Our connected care platform provides specialist access anywhere in the country.”

Gurugram’s Real Estate Firm Spaze Group Leases Out Space To IJM Toyoto

3rd November 2022, Gurugram: Gurugram-based real estate Spaze Group has leased a large retail space to IJM Toyota Showroom, the authorized dealer and seller of Toyota cars headquartered in Punjab. IJM Toyota has acquired space in Spaze Group’s commercial project, Spaze Boulevard, over 15,000 Sq. Ft. area located on Sohna Road, Gurugram. The showroom has been inaugurated recently and features some of the best Toyota offerings, like Glanza, Urban Cruiser, Hilux, Fortuna, and Legender, among others.

Toyota enjoys the space with other premium brands like KIA, Looks, PUMA, SLEEPWELL & Ujjivan Bank in Spaze Boulevard spread across 2 buildings. Spaze Boulevard is a mixed-use commercial project with categorical divisions between retail, office spaces, and service apartments. While Level 0 and Level 1 are dedicated to retail spaces, luxury stores, Banks, ATMs, Restaurants, Café, and Health Clubs, Levels 2 and above are reserved for office spaces and service apartments. Envisioned on world-class landscaping, Spaze Boulevard has a double-height atrium, high-powered security checkings, and ample parking space, which increases the functionality of the project.

Spaze Group is one of the most prominent commercial players in Gurugram and delivered many commercial offerings and IT parks like Spaze Corporate Park, Spaze Kalistaa, Spaze Palazo, and Spaze ITech Park.

Bharat Kumar, Director, of Spaze Group, said, “we are elated to announce that Spaze Group has leased space to IJM Toyota on the Ground Floor of Spaze Boulevard. The store is currently operational and has been inaugurated recently. With the advent of IJM Toyota in Spaze Boulevard, Spaze Group has strengthened its promise to provide customers with scalable commercial and retail options in every category, be it automobiles, home decor, food, etc. We hope to have a long-term association with IJM Toyota.”